Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Incontinence

Being a parent to a child with mental and physical disabilities is.....well.....normal to Dave and I. Finny is our eldest and to be honest we don't really think about it. BUT...........sometimes.....you have such good news that you can bearly speak. You wonder if this breakthrough is going to last, if the changes are going to regress................You dont tell anyone for ages .......just incase. SO Today....I'm-a-telling the world that our amazing 9yo (nearly 10) is DAY TOILET TRAINED!!!!! Wahoooooooo!!

This has been, a massive hurdle for Finn to over come. We new as parents that we just had to wait for the time to be right. So.....we waited. In the end with a little bit of reverse psychology, a body that could finally balance and developmental coordination that overcame the need to be independent.....it has clicked!! HERE'S EVEN BIGGER NEWS......out of the last 10 nights Finn has been dry 8!!!!!!!!!!

So....for those that may be wondering...How did I do it?

In the end it was my sister and her husbands family that gave me the tools that could work.

In her house they train by taking the kids shopping for cheap but bright stunning undies. When the kids soil there pants they are then thrown in the bin....the kids are devastated because they LOVE there new knickers.

This made me think....it was a angle I hadn't tried before and believe me....I HAD TRIED ALL THE TRICKS IN THE DAM BOOK!!!

In Finns case....he didn't care about his jocks (to be honest he really couldn't give a shit!) he hated them....BUT he loved his nappies. They were his security.....SO.....

I put him in Jocks and told him........."if he did wee or poo in his jocks I would BURN a NAPPY!!!" This may sound strange burning a perfectly good nappy that cost a FORTUNE.......(incontinence supplies for older kids/adults cost megga bucks!!) ...but I had to give it a go!!

IT WORKED!!!! I burnt one nappy and made him stand there and watch the bugger burn...he was devastated, you could even say it shattered him. I had to stand strong....there was no going back!!

So there we have it....one special needs kid that has achieved one whopping big milestone!!!

So much of parenting is just going with gut instinct and feeling your way. Good for you. Sounds like it has worked for the moment, radical, but who knows, sounds like it has had the right impact. Well done.

WOW!!! CONGRATULATIONS FINN and MUM and DAD too. I do so understand how these milestones are incredibly exciting for you and your child. Well done for being so STRONG.I have a much older child, now young adult with a slight disability and remember well the hurdles and challenges we had to go through. You and your husband have my absolute admiration. There will be many more exciting times like this when Finn will delight and surprise you. I'm just sooo happy for you all.Have a wonderful day.

Congrats to you Finn, and Mum and Dad for your loving guidance. There is a right moment for everything with our children, as parents, we are usually the ones that know when that 'moment' is. Despite all the advice and experts out there, Mum and Dad know best. What an awesome milestone. Celebrations for sure.

it's just finding that magic key, isn't it?! well done! and well done on persisting.[we used the cheap undie trick way back and it's one i've suggested to others, too!]and the night thing is even better, i'm sure.hope YOUR drought continues. xx

Cuppa & Cake is about living in the Australian bush with an old sewing machine, a set of knitting sticks and a ancient combustion oven. Outside, I rustle amongst the flower beds, vegetable patch and orchid. I have loads of fun with our free range kids and many trials and tribulations to share. If you would like to pull up a seat and enjoy Cuppa & Cake, then stay, you're more than welcome.